Mozambique: The double blow of droughts and floods

Case Study

Mozambique: The double blow of droughts and floods

The North Bank Region of The Gambia has a history of recurrent droughts, which have been increasing in frequency. Rainfall levels in the last three decades are over 35 per cent lower than previous decades. In 2011, the region experienced a severe drought that affected 98 per cent of the respondents, many of whom lost their entire harvests. In addition to receiving food aid, people coped by looking for additional income (e.g. sale of property) to buy food. Despite this, 63 per cent still had to modify their food consumption, for example by changing from three to two meals a day. This suggests that coping measures were insufficient, as one of the most basic human needs was still compromised.